Bert Newton expresses gratitude for Royal Children’s Hospital ahead of Good Friday Appeal

THE Newtons are throwing their support behind the Good Friday Appeal, revealing a frightening battle with pneumonia that landed one of the youngest in intensive care.

TV LEGEND Bert Newton knows more than most the importance of the Royal Children’s Hospital to Victorians, revealing they saved the life of his adored granddaughter.

Eva was just two weeks old when a frightening battle with pneumonia landed her in intensive care.

“You go to a place like the Royal Children’s Hospital and you come away and realise the heroes are the ones who are the unknown,” Newton said.

“I know it is recognised by the appeal, but it is something that we as Victorians should never forget. I can’t think of an institution that is more important than the Royal Children’s.”

Bert Newton with daughter Lauren and grandson Monty. Picture: Alex Coppel.

Patti Newton with her grandchildren Monty and Eva. Picture: Instagram/Lauren Newton

TV’s first family has spoken of their deep gratitude to the hospital in the lead-up to the Good Friday Appeal. Newton’s daughter Lauren said she dashed to the RCH with her then newborn baby girl.

“I’d been to the doctor and the paediatrician and they all kept saying she was fine, and finally I said to Mum (Patti Newton), ‘I think I will we will go back into the Children’s,” Lauren said.

“By the time we got there she was not able to breathe on her own, she had started to turn blue and they had to grab her from me and take her into resus (resuscitation).

“It all happened so quickly.

“They said she probably would not have made it through the night at home so we were very lucky. She spent two weeks in the neonatal intensive care unit.

“It is so reassuring knowing your baby is in the best hands.”

Eva, now 8, is fighting fit and helping to keep an eye on younger siblings Lola, 6, and Monty, 2, who have also had experience with the talented staff at the hospital. Monty recently had surgery to correct a hearing problem, and Lola had a breathing condition as a baby.

Bert and Patti Newton with daughter Lauren and their granddaughter Eva. Pictures: Rob Leeson.

“Monty was treated there with a kidney infection when he was first born and he has had his ears done,” she said.

“He had a lot of burst eardrums and a lot of hearing loss so finally we had his ears operated ... he is now 100 per cent.

“Lola ended up there at two weeks of age. She had something called laryngospasm, which meant she would stop breathing quite often, so we spent quite a bit of time at the Children’s in her first year. With four children (eldest Sam, 10) there just always seems to be something.”

To make a donation, go to goodfridayappeal.com.au

[e-mail]